Cabinet piano



Q. Oct. 20, 1936-. cc w Q 2,058,001

CABINET PIANO 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 23, 1935 if INVENTORS MET/N5 C04 W/M By L/SEPHJAUE/PLA/VD.

ATTORNEYS Get. 20, 1936.

' 'M.=B. COLWIN ET AL CABINET PIANO Filed'Ocg. 23, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTORS ATTORNEYS BY .SEPHJAUERMIVD.

. M. B. COLWIN ET AL CABINET PIANO Oct. 20, 1936.

Filed 001;. 25, 1955 Sheets-Sheet 5 a m. w 2mm mw Mo Wai M ICMA V j s a W W E u Mfimlr M. B. COLWIN ET AL Oct. 20, 1936.

CABINET PIANO A Filed Oct. 25, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 20, 1936 UNITED STATES CABINET PIANO Martin B. Colwin, New York, N. Y., and Joseph Sauerland, West New York, N. J., assignors to Hardman, Peck & Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 23 13 Claims.

This invention relates to pianos and particularly to that type of piano in which the key bed can be folded from playing position to an inoperative position, so that in the latter position it occupies a minimum of space. It is recognized that the idea of providing pianos with folding key beds is broadly old, but in a practical sense they have not been extensively manufactured, largely, because the operating mechanism of such old constructions were cumbersome and they did not find an extensive market because of various inherent deficiencies. Our invention aims to provide detailed improved means whereby a practical folding piano is made available. The arrangement of cooperating parts of our piano is such that in playing position, the parts constitute an effective musical instrument of good appearance and equally good tone quality. We also aim to provide a construction in which the component parts are so arranged that when the instrument is in non-playing condition, it has the appearance of a console or similar piece of furniture.

In our improved piano, the key bed has metalli portions secured thereto carried with other metallic portions secured to the casing of the piano, these parts being hingedly connected.

A toggle and spring arrangement is provided, which is effective to securely hold the key bed and related parts in closed position. And a counterpoise is operatively associated with the hingedly mounted key bed, so as to facilitate the movement of the same from either operative to non-operative position or vice versa. Means are also provided for holding the keys against the felts when the key bed is moved to closed position. This is important because it prevents the undesired swelling of the felts and sticking of the keys in the event that the key bed remains closed for long periods of time. We also include automatic means for releasing the key holding means upon the movement of the key bed to playing position.

Another feature relates to the improved means for mounting the pedals at the back of the piano, in such a way that they are below the bottom board. This arrangement lends for compactness in design and obviates the necessity of having as great a depth of easing as required in old constructions.

Another feature relates to a telescoping music rest or panel, which automatically disappears as the key bed is swung to closed position. The arrangement of the key bed is such that the key slipbecomes part of the top of the cabinet when the parts are in closed position, and the part which is the bottom in playing position becomes the front in closed or non-playing position.

Other features of our improvements relate to the locking means for holding the key bed closed,

, 1935, Serial No. 46,250

and the spring arrangement which acts as a counterpoise for the key bed.

Means are also provided whereby the pedals are covered when in non-operative position. And we also provide means for automatically actuating said pedal covering means upon movement of the key bed.

The above and other more detailed features of the invention will be fully apparent from the following specification, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of our improved piano in non-playing position; Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view with the key bed folded down to playing position; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a piano illustrating the position of parts in the key bed as in playing position; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional perspective View of a telescoping music rack; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the upper portion of Fig. 4 illustrating detailed features, parts of the action being omitted in the interest of clearness; Fig. 6 is a detail section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an elevation as viewed from the left in Fig. 5, parts being broken away in the interest of clearness; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section on line 38 of Fig. '7; Fig. 9 is a detail section on line 99 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating the key bed folded to non-playing position; Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View illustrating means for covering the pedals and operating means therefor actuated by movement of the key bed; Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation on line 12-42 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a detail of parts shown in Fig. 11 illustrating the pedal cover in closed position; Fig. 14 is a horizontal section on line i i-44 of Fig. 11.

Referring in detail to the drawings, iil represents a suitable back frame usually made of heavy timbers from which is supported a suitable sounding board 52, hitch pin plate M and tuning pin plate H6. The strings 58 are secured in a conventional manner by hitch pins and tuning pins and they pass over the usual bridge .26 carried by the sounding board. A standard form of piano action is provided. This includes the usual hammers 22 pivoted at M to a fixed cross rail These hammers are actuated in the usual man ner through members 28 pivoted to another fixed cross rail These action parts are of weiknown construction and need not, therefore, be further discussed in detail. The members 23 cf the action are actuated by the keys $2 pivoted on pins 34 which pass through slots formed in the keys. ach key at its end carries a striker screw 35 for engagement with the action member 28. The key pivot pins 34 are secured in a ral. forming part of the hingedly mounted key bed indicated as a whole at When the key bed is in the playing position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the keys have the usual freedom of movement. But, when the key bed is moved to the non-playing position, (Fig. 10) the keys are locked by means of a locking bar 42 secured to arms 44, which are pivoted at 46 to a metal plate-48 forming part of the hinge mounting of the key bed.

A spring 58 tends to move the locking bar toward the keys, thus when the key bed is swung to the closed position of Figs. 1 and 10, the spring urged bar 42 presses against the keys so as to hold in a compressed state the felts 52 and 5. This is regarded as of importance because it prevents the swelling or other distortion of the felts during the time the key bed is in closed position. The locking bar 42 also prevents objectionable rattling or relative movement of the keys with respect to the key bed when the parts are being moved from one position to the other. For automatically releasing the keys, when the key bed is moved to playing position, we provide an abutment 56 which coacts with an angular eXtensior-l 58 formed on the free end of the arms 4d. Thus, when the key bed is swung to the playing position of Figs. 2 and 5, the locking bar 44 is auton'iatica. ly retracted.

The plate 48 forms one part of the hinge mounting and provides a long wearing bearing for the pintle screw 60 secured to a side plate which is screwed or otherwise fastened to the end panel 64 of the piano casing.

It is clear that the hinge connectio the plates 48 and 62 secured, respecti to key bed and the side panel of the piano pro supporting means whereby key bed ca be swung from the playing position of Figs. and 5 to the closed non-playing position of Figs. 1 and 1G.

facilitate the movement of the key bed :fi m closed to open position, we provide a counterpoise in the form of a spring having coiled po 36 concentric with the pintle screw 60 and he arms =33 and "I0 anchored, respectively, to the plate 52 and to a portion of the movable rey bed.

As thus arranged, the key bed can be gently lo cred from. the position of to the pos non shown in Fig. 5. The stored torque in the coiled portion 66 of the spring is such that it normally tends to cause the arms 68 and 1".) thereof to epproach one another. Thus, when the key bod swung about its pivotal. supports, the spring a counter-balancing effect.

Our folding piano is provided with means for automatically yet iinpositively holding the parts in collapsed position. For purpose, we e1nploy a toggle locking mechanism best shown Figs. 5 and 10. This locking mechanism includes links i2 and M pivoted, respectively, at 75 and "58 to the fixed plate 62 and the movable plate 48. These links are pivotally connected at their inner ends with one another by a pin which passes through an eye formed in the end of a rod whose upper portion slldingly engages an ape ture 84 formed in a flange lid at the top oi.

fixed plate 62.

The rod has adjustably secured thereto a collar 88 and a spring 93 surrounding th rod is interposed between the collar and the 1 86. When the key bed 48 swung from the ..i.ayiii position of 5 to the non-op r tive po tion of Fig. 10, the pin 88 connecting the 1-- "l2, l4 and rod 8?. is swung over the dead con line .r-x, passing through the pivot '58 oi t link I l and the center of the aperture n this position, the spring 90 is under surlicient com-- pression to impositively hold the my bed in the upright or closed position shown. Thus, the link M and the rod 82 constitute a resi ient toggle. When the key bed is swung down, the link 7 tends to move upwardly. The upward effort is resolved into a horizontal component which is to rock the link 'Iil coLmter-clockwise and t breaks the toggle moving the pin past dead center and continued movement of the key d to horizontal position will then carry the 1 I4 and rod 82 to the position 01 Fig. 5, understood.

When the key bed is moved to the closed position of Figs. 1 and 10, the key slip 91": serves to form part of the top of the cabinet and the panels 94 which constitute the bottom of the key bed in playing position become the front face panels of the piano in its closed position.

A cross member 95 secured to the movable key bed has one member 98 of a telescoping music rest secured thereto by a hinge I80. The member 98 has secured to its rear face a pair of parallel guide bars I02, which form a slot I84 which serves as a guide for screws I82 secured to the rear face of the upper member I88 of the music rest. This upper member carries a bracket III], which is pivoted at M2 to the side panels of the piano casing. As thus arranged, it will be ap parent that, as the key bed is swung from the playing position of Fig. 5 to the closed position of Fig. 10, the members 98 and I88 of the music rack will, because of the sliding engagement, be telescoped or overlapped and thus be readily accommodated within the limited vertical dimension between the underside of the top board II4 of the piano casing and the hinge I00 secured to the cross member 96 of the key bed.

In a folding piano, we regard it as of importance to provide a construction which will permit enclosing all of the pedals in a case of much less depth than that required in usual pianos. But, in lessening the depth, if the pedals were mounted in the usual manner they would have insufficient leverage for smooth and easy action and would present other problems. To meet these problems, we believe we are the first to suggest the improved manner of pedal mounting in which the pedals are pivotally mounted on. a bracket carried on the extreme rear face of the piano and in which such pedals extend below the extreme bottom board of the piano. Hence, we have provided a pedal mount or support, such as indicated at M8, which is secured to the ex treme back face of the piano to one of the lower cross rails by screws or other fastening devices indicated at H8.

The pedals are hinged at I and as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 they extend forwardly under the bottom board of the piano. These pedals coact with levers I22! and I 24 which actuate vertical rods I26 and I28 located within the piano casing behind the lower front panel I30. The forward ends of the pedals are adapted to be enclosed or obscured from view by a cover I32, such as illustrated in Fig. 3, this cover being pivotally mounted on a hinge I34. F'or automatically actuating the cover I32, we provide mechanism actuating in response to a movement of the key bed. As best shown in Figs. 11 to 13 inclusive, this mechanism includes a pivotally mounted bell crank having one arm I connected by links I38 and I48 with a bracket arm I42 carried by the cover. The other arm I44 of the bell crank is connected to a vertically movable rod I46, whose upper end is flanged over, as in dicated at I48, for engagement with the key bed.

A spring I50, anchored at I52 to a fixed pin and to a pin I54 carried by a link I56 pivotally secured at I58 to the rod I46 tends to move the cover I32 to the closed position of Fig. 13. As thus arranged, it is clear that when the key bed is swung to closed position the spring will automatically cause the cover I32 to move to a position to enclose the pedals and obscure them from view.

While we have described with great particularity the specific embodiment of the invention herein illustrated it is to be understood that various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What we claim is:-

1. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, keys movably mounted on the key bed, and a locking bar movable relatively to the key bed adapted to fixedly hold the keys when the key bed is swung to closed position and means for moving said bar out of contact with the keys when the key bed is swung to open position.

2. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, keys movably mounted on the key bed, cushion members between the rear portions of the keys and the key bed, and a locking bar movable into and out of contact with the keys and effective to hold the keys firmly in contact with said cushions when the key bed is in closed position.

3. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, keys movably mounted on a fulcrum on the key bed, and a locking bar located tothe rear of said fulcrum, means for yieldingly pressing said bar against the keys when the key bed is swung to closed position and means for automatically moving the locking bar away from the keys upon movement of the key bed to playing position.

4. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, keys movably mounted on the key bed, cushion members between the keys and the key bed, and a locking bar movable toward and from the keys effective to hold the keys in contact with said cushions when the key bed is in closed position and means for automatically moving the locking bar away from the keys upon movement of the key bed to playing position.

5. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, keys r movably mounted on the key bed, cushion mem-' bers between the keys and the key bed, and a locking bar for coaction with the keys, a movable support for the locking bar, means tending to press the locking bar against the keys, and means coacting with the movable locking bar supporting means and effective to move the locking bar out of engagement with the keys upon the movement of the key bed to playing position.

6. In a piano having a key bed mounted on an axis for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, a spring member having a coiled portion substantially concentric with said pivotal axis, said spring having arms connected respectively to the key bed and to the casing, and locking means for the key bed comprising a pair of links connected respectively to the key bed and the casing at their respective outer extremities and connected at their inner extremities with one another and with a rod carrying a compression spring, said rod having a sliding engagement with one of the members supported from the casing and the spring being interposed between said member and a collar secured to the rod, the parts being so arranged that when the key bed is in closed position the said pin is thrown past the dead center line between the pivotal connection of one of said links with the movable key bed and the point where said rod passes through the member which it slidingly engages.

7. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, a music rest comprising two parts in telescopic engagement one of which is hingedly connected to the casing and the other of which is hingedly connected to the key bed.

8. A piano having pedals disposed wholly underneath the bottom board thereof and which are pivoted to a bracket secured to the rearmost face of the piano.

9. A piano having a bottom board, pedals disposed in a plane wholly below the latter and pivoted to a bracket secured to the rear face of the piano, pedal actuated levers disposed above the bottom board and connecting members passing through the bottom board operatively connecting said pedals with said levers.

10. In a piano having a pivotally mounted key bed and pedals which extend below the bottom board of the piano and which are pivoted to a bracket secured to the rear face thereof, a movably mounted pedal cover and linkage connections effective upon the closing movement of the key bed to cause a closing movement of said cover over the exposed portions of the pedals.

11. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, pedals extending below the bottom of the piano pivoted to a bracket secured to the rear face thereof, a pedal cover hingedly secured to the piano, and means actuated upon closing movement of the key bed for swinging the pedal cover about its hinge to a position which will enclose the forward ends of said pedals.

12. In a piano having a key bed mounted for pivotal movement relatively to its casing, said key bed including a key slip which extends transversely in front of the keys when the key bed is in playing position, said key bed including panels which form the bottom thereof when the key bed is in playing position and which form the exterior of the casing when the key bed is moved to non-playing position, and said key slip being arranged to abut and lie in the same plane with and thus form part of the top of the casing closure when the key bed is moved to non-playing position.

13. A piano having a casing portion, a hinge supporting plate secured thereto, a key bed having a bracket member secured thereto hingedly connected to said supporting plate, upper and lower links pivotally connected respectively tosaid supporting plate and said bracket, a rod having a connecting pin engaging both of said links, a fixed member having an aperture therein through which said rod slides, a collar on said rod and a compression spring carried by the rod between said collar and said apertured member, said links and rod being effective to impositively hold the key bed in closed position.

MARTIN B. COLWIN. JOSEPH SAUERLAND. 

